JP2002143478A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of facilitating the management of balls on a circulating route. SOLUTION: In the game machine having a circulating route 80, where balls are circulated, this machine is equipped with main body parts 1a and 20 of game machine, a door member 60 mounted to be opened/closed on the front side of the main body parts 1a and 20 of game machine, a ball detecting means 173, which is provided in the main body parts 1a and 20 of game machine, for detecting the state of lacking balls to be circulated on the circulating route 80 and a ball replenishing means, which is provided in the main body parts 1a and 20 of game machine, for replenishing balls onto the circulating route 80 on the basis of the signal of ball lack from the ball detecting means 173. The ball replenishing means has a tank 118 for replenishment for storing balls for replenishment of a required number and in the state of closing the door member 60, the tank 118 for replenishment is covered by the same member 60 or in the state of opening the door member 60, the tank is located at a position capable of throwing balls from the front side of the main body parts 1a and 20 of game machine into the tank 118 for replenishment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine having a circulation path for circulating a ball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball circulation type game machine (for example, sometimes referred to as an enclosed pachinko machine, a revolving pachinko machine, or the like) has a structure in which a predetermined number of balls are circulated and used in a circulation path. . Further, in such a circulating game machine, there is a case where a ball may be stopped by a nail or the like provided on the game board. In this case, the staff at the game arcade opens the glass door (also referred to as a front frame) of the gaming machine, and removes the ball stopped on the gaming board. At this time, in order to compensate for the disadvantage of the interruption of the game, it is common for the player to perform a service action by, for example, inserting a ball (pachinko ball) into a winning opening.

[0003]

By the way, when playing a game,
A plurality of balls may be stopped by nails or the like provided on the game board. In such a case, when a glass door (also referred to as a door member or a front frame) of the gaming machine is opened, a ball fixed by a nail or the like may fall on the floor of the game hall and scatter. As a result, the number of spheres circulating in the circulation path may be insufficient, and management of the sphere requires a lot of trouble. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of facilitating management of a ball on a circulation path in view of the above problems.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the first invention has a gist as set forth in claim 1. Therefore, when the shortage state of the balls circulating in the circulation path is detected by the ball detection means, the ball replenishment means operates based on the signal of the ball shortage from the ball detection means, and the replenishment balls are sent to the circulation path. Be replenished. The ball replenishing means has a replenishing tank, and the replenishing tank is covered by the door member when the door member is closed, and when the door member is open, the game machine main body. It is arranged at a position where a ball can be inserted into the replenishing tank from the front side of the section. Therefore, when the refilling ball is to be charged into the refilling tank, the refilling ball can be easily charged into the refilling tank from the front side of the gaming machine main body with the door member opened. Further, when the door member is in the closed state, the replenishing tank is covered, thereby preventing a problem that a ball is unexpectedly extracted from the replenishing tank or a foreign substance or the like is unexpectedly thrown in.

Further, a second aspect of the present invention has a configuration as described in claim 2. Therefore, when the deficiency state of the sphere circulating in the circulation path is detected by the sphere detection means and the signal of the sphere shortage is transmitted to the control means, the control means controls the operation of the electric actuator. As a result, the replenishing ball feeding member is driven, so that the refilling balls in the replenishing tank are sent out to the circulation path via the delivery passage and replenished.

A third aspect of the present invention has a gist of the structure according to the third aspect. Therefore, since the refill tank is arranged near the hinge side on the front surface of the base mounted on the one side of the game machine main body so as to be openable and closable by the hinge mechanism, the hinge is moved by the load of the ball stored in the refill tank. The rotational moment applied to the mechanism can be reduced, and the hinge mechanism can be prevented from being damaged.

[0007] The fourth invention has a gist of the structure as set forth in claim 4. Therefore, since the storage state of the ball in the replenishment tank can be notified by the notification means,
The management of the ball for the refill tank becomes easy.

[0008] The fifth invention has a gist as set forth in claim 5. Therefore, on the front side of the replenishing tank, the notifying unit can be configured very simply by the visual recognition unit that can visually recognize the storage state of the sphere in the tank.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, which shows a ball-recirculation type gaming machine, for example, a recirculation pachinko machine in a perspective view, FIG. 2 which shows from a front, and FIG. 1a is formed in a rectangular box shape whose rear side is closed by the back plate 2. Outer frame 1a
On the front side of the hinge plate 1 on one side.
It is mounted to be openable and closable by a base hinge mechanism 10 having a hinge pin 1 and a hinge pin 13. Note that a receiving plate 3 for supporting the lower surface of the base 20 is integrally provided at a lower portion on the front side of the outer frame 1a. The main body of the gaming machine is mainly composed of an outer frame 1a as a gaming machine main body frame and a base 20 on which main devices related to the game (for example, a game board 30, various control bases, etc.) are installed. I have.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the free end of the rear surface of the base 20 is engaged with a locking member disposed at a predetermined position of the outer frame 1a so as to be detachably engaged therewith. A base locking hook 21 for locking the door 20 in a closed state is mounted so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The base 20 is formed of a synthetic resin material, and a substantially central portion thereof is provided with a holding frame 25 having an opening window in which the front surface of the game board 30 is exposed and the game board 30 is fitted. Further, on the rear side of the holding frame 25, a required number of fasteners 26 for detachably holding the game board 30 in the holding frame 25 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a guide rail 32 for dividing a game area 31 is mounted on the front surface of the game board 30. The guide rail 32 has a ball on the left side as viewed in FIG. A launch guide path 33 for guiding a ball (pachinko ball) launched from the launch device to the game area 31 is formed.
At a substantially central portion of the game area 31 of the game board 30, a center role object 34a to which a symbol display device 34 controlled by a symbol control board is mounted is mounted. Further, in the game area 31 of the gaming board 30, windmills 36 are respectively disposed at the upper left and right of the center role object 34a, and a winning opening 38 is disposed at the lower left and right portions of the center role product 34a. Have been. Further, in the game area 31 of the game board 30, a starting port 39 is provided immediately below the center role object 34a, and a large winning opening that is opened and closed by the opening / closing door 41 immediately below the starting port 39. An attacker device 45 having 40 is provided. Furthermore, an out port 42 is provided below the game area 31.
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, a back cover 43 is mounted substantially at the center of the rear surface of the game board 30, and the back surface of the back cover 43 is provided with a first game system control board accommodated therein.
A control box 150 and a second control box 151 containing a sound control board, a decoration control board, and the like are mounted adjacent to each other on the left and right. Also, as shown in FIG.
The recovery gutter 8 is provided on the rear surface adjacent to the lower side of the back cover body 43.
3 is attached. The collecting gutter 83 is provided with a winning opening 38,
The ball that has won various winning ports such as the big winning port 40 and the ball that has flowed into the out port 42 are collected, respectively, and these balls are guided to a collecting joint channel 84 described later.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG.
A ball launching device for launching a ball is mounted on a launch guide path 33 of a guide rail 32 of the game board 30. The ball launching device includes a launching rail 81 provided in communication with the launching guide path 33, a launching hammer 52 that launches a ball at a launching location near the starting point of the launching rail 81 by using the launching motor 51 as a driving source, And a firing handle 50 for operating a firing motor 51. Further, the firing handle 50 is mounted on a lower portion on one side of the front surface of the base 20 (a lower right portion in FIG. 3). A touch sensor (the touch sensor 53 in FIG. 18) is attached to the firing handle 50, and the firing motor 51 is operated when a player touches the firing handle 50.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer frame 1
On the front side of a, a front frame 60 as a door member is openably and closably mounted so as to cover substantially the entire front surface of the base 20 except for the vicinity of the firing handle 50 of the base 20. In this embodiment, the table frame 60 is mounted on the front surface of the base 20 so as to be openable and closable by a table frame hinge mechanism disposed on one side (the left side in FIG. 2). A substantially circular opening window 62 through which the game area 31 of the game board 30 can be visually recognized is formed in the front frame 60, and a glass plate is formed on the rear surface of the front frame 60 along the periphery of the opening window 62. Is provided. In addition, a decorative lamp (not shown) made of a lamp, an LED, and the like, which lights and blinks decoratively along the outer periphery of the opening window 62, is provided on the front frame 60. In addition, the front window 60 has an opening window 6.
2, a table frame display device 193 (for example, a color LCD) that displays numbers, characters, and designs such as the number of balls and the number of card balances is visible from the front of the table frame 60. It is arranged in. Further, the table frame 60 is provided with a ball lending button 190, a return button 191, and a settlement button 192, which are located above the display section of the table frame display device 193. The table frame 60 is fixed to the base 20 by a table frame locking hook disposed on the free end side of the rear surface.
Is locked in a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, on the rear side of the base 20, there is provided a recovery merging passage 8 forming a spherical passage of the circulation path 80.
4. Arrangement passages 86 and firing delivery passages 87 are sequentially provided. Then, a launch path constituted by the launch rail 81, a launch guide path 33 constituted by the guide rail 32, a game area 31, various winning ports, an out port 42, a collecting gutter 83, a collecting junction 84, an array path 86, The circulating path 80 of the ball B is configured by the launching and transmitting path 87. As shown in FIG. 7, the recovery merging flow path 84 is formed to meander in a substantially S-shape, and a sphere inflow port at the upper end thereof is formed in communication with the recovery gutter 83 directly below the sphere outflow port. Have been. A foul ball recovery port 82 is opened in the middle of the recovery merging path 84 (in this embodiment, substantially at the center of the recovery merging path 84), and the ball B flowing through the foul ball path is collected from the foul ball recovery port 82. It flows into the merged channel 84. That is, there is a ball B between the firing rail 81 and the lower portion of the outer rail portion of the guide rail 32.
(A foul ball) drop port is provided, and the ball B dropped into the drop port passes through a foul ball passage and a foul ball collection port 8
2 to the recovery junction channel 84.

Further, in this embodiment, a replenishing ball outlet 88 communicating with a replenishing passage of a ball replenishing means, which will be described later, is formed on the upstream side of the collecting joint channel 84, and a surplus ball communicating with a surplus ball holding tank 130 is formed. The ball discharge path 85 is branched and formed. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the surplus ball holding tank 130 is detachably attached to a tank holding portion provided on a portion of the base 20 located immediately below the discharge port of the surplus ball discharge path 85. .

As shown in FIG. 8, an array passage 86 is provided in communication with a ball outlet at a downstream portion of the recovery merging channel 84, and is arranged to store a plurality of balls B in contact with each other. . In this embodiment, the array passage 86 is formed in the ball feed unit 90. The ball feed unit 90 is provided at a predetermined position on the
0 is detachably mounted in an assembly hole penetrated from the front surface to the rear surface. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the unit case 91 forming the main body of the ball feed unit 90 is configured to be separable by the front and rear divided case bodies 92 and 93. A passage wall for forming an array passage 86 is formed between the front and rear divided case bodies 92 and 93. The arrangement passage 86 communicates with the ball outlet of the recovery joint flow passage 84 and forms an inflow passage portion having a downward slope, a U-shaped passage portion having one side continuous with the inflow passage portion, and a U-shaped passage portion. And a delivery passage portion communicating with the other side and forming an upward slope.

In this embodiment, the U of the array passage 86 is provided between the front and rear divided case bodies 92 and 93.
A circulating sphere feed member 94 composed of a sprocket-shaped rotating body is rotatably mounted around the shaft in the V-shaped passage portion. A plurality (two in FIG. 8) of ball receiving portions 95 are provided at a predetermined angle (FIG.
At 180 degrees). The circulating sphere feed member 94 is rotated by a circulating sphere feed motor 97 as a driving source, and sends out the balls B in the array passage 86 one by one toward the emission and delivery path 87. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
7 is a rear split case body 9 exposed on the rear side of the base 20.
3 is mounted on the rear side. The output shaft of the circulation ball feed motor 97 is coupled to the shaft of the circulation ball feed member 94 so as to be able to transmit torque. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the front divided case body 92 exposed on the front side of the base 20 is provided.
On the front surface of the ball, a ball take-out operation knob 105 (corresponding to an operation section of the present invention) is connected to the shaft of the circulating sphere feeding member 94 so as to be able to transmit torque, and rotates the circulating sphere feeding member 94 by manual operation. Is assembled.

In a part of the ball passage of the circulation path 80 (excluding the game area 31 of the game board 30), a discharge port 86a capable of discharging the ball B circulating in the ball passage and a discharge port 86a are provided. An opening / closing member 98 that opens and closes is provided, and an outlet 115 from which the ball B discharged from the discharge port 86a can be taken out is provided on the front side of the gaming machine. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a discharge port 86a is formed by removing a U-shaped passage portion and a passage wall near a bottom portion of an arrayed passage 86 constituting a part of a spherical passage. ing. An opening / closing member 98 for opening / closing the discharge port 86a is mounted between the two divided case bodies 92 and 93 in front and behind the ball feed unit 91 so as to be openable / closable about an axis 99 near one end thereof. ing. This opening / closing member 98 is
It is kept closed by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring, and its leading end has a U
A substantially arc-shaped guide surface 98a which closes the discharge port 86a of the U-shaped passage and is continuous with the passage wall of the U-shaped passage is formed. An opening / closing member 98 is provided on the front surface of the front divided case body 92 of the ball feed unit 91 exposed on the front side of the base 20.
An operation member 100 for opening and closing the camera is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the operating member 100 includes
A boss 100a into which the shaft 99 of the opening / closing member 98 is inserted is formed near one end thereof, and a guide pin which is inserted into the boss 98b substantially at the center of the opening / closing member 98 is provided at the other end of the operating member 100. 102 are formed. The shaft 99 of the opening / closing member 98 is inserted into the boss portion 100 a of the operation member 100 by a bearing hole 92 formed through the front split case body 92.
a of the operation member 100,
2 is inserted into a substantially central portion boss 98b of the opening / closing member 98 through an arc-shaped (arc-shaped guide hole 92b having the same center as the shaft 99) penetrating through the front split case body 92. Thus, the operation member 100 is mounted on the front surface of the front split case body 92 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 99. Then, the operation member 100 is moved to the operation unit 101.
In FIG. 12, the opening / closing member 98 is opened against the urging means by rotating the counterclockwise direction toward FIG. 12, and the discharge port 86a of the array passage 86 is opened.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a storage chamber 110 is formed in an upper portion between the two divided case bodies 92 and 93 before and after the ball feed unit 91. Is a cleaning member 11 for removing dust, grease and the like adhering to the balls of the array passage 86.
1 is rotatably mounted around a shaft 112. The cleaning member 111 includes a roller portion 113 provided on the outer periphery of the shaft 112 and a mop portion 114 of chemical fiber provided on the outer periphery of the roller portion 113 and having excellent adhesion of dust. A part of the outer periphery (the tip) of the sphere can contact the sphere of the array passage 86.

The cleaning member 111 is rotatably driven by the circulating ball feed motor 97 as a drive source, and its shaft 112 is connected to the output shaft of the circulating ball feed motor 97 via a gear train mechanism (not shown). It is linked to transmit torque. The gear train mechanism includes a circulating ball feed motor 9.
7 is constituted by an output gear provided on the same center line as the output shaft of No. 7, and a driven gear provided on the shaft 112 of the cleaning member 111 meshing with the output gear via an intermediate gear. And the cleaning member 111
The rotation of the circulating sphere feed member 94 is synchronized with the rotation of the circulating sphere feed member 94 and is driven to rotate in the same direction as the circulating sphere feed member 94.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the open / close member 98 of the ball feed unit 90 is opened, the ball B falling while being guided by the guide surface 98 a of the open / close member 98 is placed on the base 20. A tray-shaped outlet 115 is provided for receiving the ball B and sending the ball B from the back side to the front side. The outlet 115 can be formed integrally with the base 20 or can be formed separately from the base 20 and assembled. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the firing delivery passage 87 communicating with the delivery passage portion of the array passage 86 has an entrance passage portion that forms an upward slope continuously with the delivery passage portion, and a top portion at the upper end of the entrance passage portion. It has a delivery channel portion that forms a gentle downward slope toward the ball launch, and has a substantially U shape.

At a predetermined position on the base 20, a ball detecting means for detecting a shortage state of the ball B circulating in the circulation path 80, and a circulation path 80 based on a signal of the ball shortage from the ball detection means.
And ball replenishing means for replenishing the ball B. In this embodiment, a recovered ball detector 173 as a ball detecting means for detecting a shortage state of the ball B is disposed near the downstream portion of the recovery joint channel 84 in the ball passage of the circulation path 80 (see FIG. 4). (See FIG. 7). In addition, the recovery ball detector 173
The ball replenishing means for replenishing the balls B toward the replenishing ball outlet 88 on the upstream side of the recovery merging flow path 84 based on the ball shortage signal from the replenishing tank 118, the delivery passage 145, and the replenishing ball feeding member 124 And a replenishing solenoid 127 as an electric actuator. In this embodiment, a flat proximity switch is employed as the recovery ball detector 173, and the recovery merging path 84 is used.
Although it is provided at a part of the bottom of the switch, any type of switch may be used as long as the switch can detect the sphere B flowing through the recovery joint flow path 84.

As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG.
Reference numeral 18 is provided near the hinge side on the front surface of the base 20 and has a ball input opening that opens upward so that a refill ball B can be inserted into the refill tank 118 from the front side of the base 20. In this embodiment, the refill tank 118
It is formed in a substantially U-shape in cross section, and is attached to a lower portion of the outer side of the holding frame 25 by a screw or the like near the base hinge mechanism 10 on the front surface of the base 20.
The refill tank 118 has a ball storage chamber for storing the refill balls B in cooperation with the outer surface of the holding frame 25, and the upper end opening of the ball storage chamber is used as a ball input opening. I have.

In this embodiment, the refill tank 118 is provided with a notifying means for notifying the storage state of the balls B in the ball storage chamber. The notification means can be configured by penetrating a vertically long slit-shaped through hole 119 in the front plate of the replenishing tank 118. Further, at least the front plate of the replenishing tank 118 may be formed of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin. Further, a ball detector for detecting the storage state of the ball B is provided at a predetermined position of the ball storage chamber of the replenishing tank 118, and a notification lamp and a notification buzzer for notifying the presence or absence of the ball B based on a detection signal of the ball detector are circulated. It can also be configured by installing it at a predetermined position of the pachinko machine 1, for example, at the front of the base 20. Also, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to form a transparent or translucent portion corresponding to the through hole 119 of No. 8 to form the see-through portion 119a. In this case, even when the front frame 60 is in the closed state, the storage state of the spheres in the replenishing tank 118 is changed to the through hole 119 and the see-through section 1.
Through 19a, it becomes visible from the front side of the front frame 60.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a replenishing unit 120 is detachably mounted at a predetermined position on the front surface of the base 20 at a position almost directly below the replenishing tank 118.
The replenishing unit 120 is provided with a ball B of the replenishing tank 118.
To the replenishing sphere sending-out port 88 provided on the upstream side of the collecting joint flow path 84 via the communicating path provided in the communicating gutter 140 and the ball B of the sending path 145 to the communicating path of the communicating gutter 140. A replenishing ball feeding member 124 to be fed out and a replenishing solenoid 127 as an electric actuator for performing a ball feeding operation of the replenishing ball feeding member 124 are provided. That is, (A), (B), and
As shown in (C), the unit case 121 that forms the main body of the replenishing tank 118 includes the front and rear divided case bodies 1.
22 and 123 are configured to be separable. A passage wall for forming the delivery passage 145 is formed between the front and rear divided case bodies 122 and 123. Further, an inlet portion on one end side of the delivery passage 145 communicates with an opening outlet portion at the lower end of the replenishing tank 118, and the delivery passage 1
The outlet at the other end of the communication line 45 communicates with the inlet of the communication passage of the communication gutter 140.

Between the front and rear divided case bodies 122 and 123, a replenishing ball feeding member 124 composed of a sprocket-shaped rotating body is rotatably mounted on the shaft in the middle of the delivery passage 145. A plurality (two in the figure) of ball receiving portions 125 are formed on the outer periphery of the replenishing ball sending member 124 at a predetermined angle (180 degrees in the figure). The replenishing ball feed member 124 is swung by the replenishing solenoid 127 as a driving source, and replenishes the balls B of the delivery passage 145 provided one by one on the upstream side of the recovery merging passage 84 of the circulation path 80 via the communication path. It is sent to the ball outlet 88 (see FIG. 7).

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a replenishing solenoid 127 is attached to the rear divided case body 123 between the front and rear divided case bodies 122 and 123. Further, between the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 127 and the replenishing ball feeding member 124, the reciprocating linear motion of the plunger is converted into a oscillating motion (reciprocating rotation motion about an axis) to convert the replenishing ball feeding member. An interlocking mechanism 128 for transmitting to the motor 124 is assembled. Further, the interlocking mechanism 128 includes an interlocking member 129 provided integrally with the tip of the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 127, an interlocking groove provided in a part of the interlocking member 129, and a slide along the interlocking groove. And an interlocking pin protruding from the replenishing ball feed member 124 as much as possible. Then, a signal of the lack of sphere from the collected sphere detector 173 is transmitted to the sphere information system control board 170 as a control means, and the replenishing solenoid 127 is turned on / off by the control signal output from the sphere information system control board 170. I do. As a result, the plunger makes one reciprocation, so that the replenishing ball feeding member 124 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees from the ball receiving position to the ball discharging position through the interlocking mechanism 128 so that the original ball receiving member 125 rotates. The ball B is inverted to the position, and the balls B are sent out one by one to the communication path of the communication gutter 140.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the upper and lower front sides of an interlocking member 129 provided integrally with the tip of the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 127 are slid. The part 129a and the operation part 129b are provided projecting respectively. And these sliding parts 129
a and the operating portion 129b are formed in the upper and lower portions of the front split case body 122 in parallel with each other in a horizontal slit-like sliding hole 12 extending therethrough.
4a and the guide hole 124b are movably fitted respectively, whereby the interlocking member 129 moves in parallel while maintaining a predetermined posture. 14 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 129b of the interlocking member 129 is
The refilling ball feed member 124 is protruded from the front surface of the front split case body 122 so as to be manually operable, and the replenishing ball feeding member 124 is also moved by reciprocating sliding of the operation unit 129b along the guide hole 124b by manual operation. The ball B swings (reciprocates) around the axis between the discharge position and the ball, whereby the balls B can be sent out one by one to the communication passage of the communication gutter 140. In this embodiment, the replenishing ball feed member 12 is provided in the delivery passage 145 of the replenishing unit 120.
A replenishment ball detector 174 that detects the passage of the ball B is provided downstream of the ball 4.

Next, an outline of the control of the revolving pachinko machine 1 and the card unit machine 200 arranged adjacent to the side thereof will be described with reference to the block diagrams shown in FIGS. First, in FIG. 17, the gaming system control board 160 for controlling the pachinko game is provided with the winning opening 3 of the gaming board 30.
8, based on signals transmitted from various winning detectors 155 installed at or near the starting port 39, the special winning opening 40, etc., the corresponding signals are sent to the sound control board 161, the decoration control board 162, and the symbol control. The information is transmitted to the board 163, the game information external output terminal 164, and the like. Then, the sound control board 161
, A control for generating a sound (music, sound effect, voice, etc.) suitable for the game from the speaker,
At 62, decorative lighting / flashing is performed on a light-emitting body such as a lamp or an LED disposed on the board surface of the game board 30, and further, on the symbol control board 163, a liquid crystal capable of displaying a symbol related to the game is displayed. Symbol display device 3 such as a unit
4 is designed to control the symbols to be displayed.

The game information external output terminal 164 is provided with information required for an external computer (for example, a hall computer or a computer in an island facility).
It is possible to transmit information such as the start of a certain change and the finalization of a symbol. The game control board 160 is housed in the first control box 150 of the back cover 43, and the sound control board 16
1. The decoration control board 162 is housed in the second control box 151 of the back cover 43 (see FIG. 1).

A ball information control board 170 is electrically connected to the game control board 160, and a signal including a prize ball command is transmitted from the game control board 160 to the ball information control board 170. It has become so. As shown in FIG. 18, the sphere information system control board 170 includes a launch sphere detector 171 that detects the sphere B fired by the launch hammer 52, a foul sphere detector 172 that detects the fouled ball B, and a collection. Sphere detector 1 for detecting sphere B
73, based on a signal transmitted from the refilled ball detector 174 or the like for detecting the refilled ball B, emits a signal corresponding to each of them, the emission control board 180, the table frame decoration control board 181, the table frame display board 182, the ball. The information is transmitted to the external output terminal 183 and the like. Then, based on the firing stop information transmitted from the ball information system control board 170 and the signals of the touch sensor 53, the motor stop switch, and the like, the firing control board 180 controls the operation of the firing motor 51, the circulating sphere feed motor 97, and the like. . In the table frame decoration control board 181, decorative lighting / flashing of the decoration lamp (a lamp, an LED, or the like) provided on the table frame 60 is controlled.
At 82, display of numbers, characters, symbols, etc., such as the number of possessed balls and the number of card balances to be displayed on a table frame display device 193 (for example, a color LCD) arranged at a predetermined position of the table frame 60 is controlled. It has become.

The ball information external output terminal 183 is provided with information required for an external computer (for example, a hall computer or a computer in an island facility).
Information such as out balls, prize balls, running out of balls, and opening doors can be transmitted. Note that the ball information system control board 170, the launch control board 180, the table frame decoration control board 181, the table frame display board 1
Reference numeral 82 is attached to a predetermined position of the outer frame 1a, for example, in the back plate 2 or the inner surface of the side plate portion of the outer frame 1a in a state of being stored in a dedicated storage box or a common storage box, respectively.

The ball information control board 170 is connected to the card control board 2 via the interface boards 195 and 221.
20 are electrically connected so as to be able to transmit and receive. The interface board 195 is disposed on the revolving pachinko machine 1 side. The interface board 195 has a ball lending button 190 for instructing a ball lending, a return button 191 for instructing a card return, and a game to be completed and settled. The settlement button 192 is electrically connected. In addition, ball lending button 1
90, return button 191, and settlement button 192
Button switches are respectively arranged at predetermined positions on the front surface of the front panel 0 so as to be operable (see FIG. 2).

The card control board 220 and the interface board 221 are arranged at predetermined positions of the card unit 200. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the card control board 220 controls a card (recording medium such as an IC card or a magnetic card), and instructs the card control board 220 to leave the seat. Away button 210, Away release button 21 for instructing release of the absence
1. A savings ball withdrawing button 212 for withdrawing the savings, a savings balance display 215 for instructing the display of the savings balance, a ten-key button 213 for inputting a number, a divisional settlement button 216 for instructing the display of the divisional settlement, and the like are respectively connected. ing. Then, a required process is performed based on signals (information) transmitted from the unseat button 210, the unseat release button 211, the saving ball withdrawal button 212, the ten-key button 213, the division settlement button 216, and the like. By this processing, ball lending function with prepaid card, ball counting processing function, ball settlement processing function (recording on card), unattended processing function, ball firing management function, number of balls and card balance etc. Various functions such as a display control function are realized.

Also, a leave button 210, a release button 211, a withdrawal button 212, and a ten-key button 21
3. Operation buttons such as the divisional settlement button 216 and the accumulated ball balance display 215 are arranged on the front of the card unit machine 200, respectively. Further, a card reader / writer device 202 having a card slot 201 is installed in the card unit machine 200 (see FIG. 2).

The circulating pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment is configured as described above. Therefore, when a card (recording medium such as an IC card or a magnetic card) is inserted into the card slot 201 of the card unit machine 200 during the pachinko game, the stored ball information (balance information) recorded on the card is stored. It is displayed on the ball balance display 215. Also, on the side of the revolving pachinko machine 1, the front frame display device 1 of the front frame 60 is provided.
The card balance display section 93 displays the card balance such as the number of balls and a numerical value obtained by converting the number of balls into a money amount based on the card balance information. Here, when the ball lending button 190 is operated, a preset number or numerical value is deducted from the balance of the card, and a number or numerical value corresponding to the deducted number or numerical value (a ratio set as a ball lending fee) For example, there may be a number or a numerical value obtained by subtracting from about 10% to about 40%) on the ball display section of the table frame display device 193. Along with this, the table frame display device 19
The balance after the withdrawal is updated and displayed on the card balance display section 3 and the stored ball balance display 215 of the card unit machine 200, respectively.

Here, when the player operates the firing handle 50, the firing motor 51 operates, and the firing hammer 52 swings about the axis. Then, the ball B at the ball launch position is guided by the launch rail 81 and the launch guide path 33 and is launched into the game area 31. Then, the ball launched by the hammer 52 for launching is sent to the launch delivery path 87.
Is detected by the launching ball detector 171 disposed downstream of the camera. Further, when the firing speed of the ball B is low, the ball B may flow down (backflow) in the firing guide path 33. In this case, the sphere B flows from the fall port between the firing rail 81 and the guide rail 32 to the recovery joint channel 84 through the foul ball path and the foul ball recovery port 82. The sphere B is detected by a sphere detector (a sphere detector 172 in FIG. 18) disposed in the sphere path.

Of the balls B launched into the game area 31,
Some balls flow into the winning opening 38 and the like, and various winning detectors 15
After being detected at 5, it flows to the collection junction 84 via the collection gutter 83. In addition, the ball B launched into the game area 31
Among them, many balls flow into the out port 42 at the lower part of the game area 31, and flow into the collecting junction 84 through the collecting gutter 83. Then, the sphere that has flowed into the collection junction channel 84 is collected by the collection junction channel 8.
4 is detected by the collected sphere detector 173 disposed downstream of and flows toward the array passage 86. Launch sphere detector 1
Each time the ball B is detected in 71, the table frame display device 1
The number and numerical values of the balls are subtracted and displayed on the holding ball display unit 93, and each time the ball B is detected by the foul ball detector 172, the holding ball display unit of the table frame display device 193 displays the number. ,
The number and numerical value of the held balls are added and displayed. Also, each time the ball B is detected by the various winning detectors 155, the number of balls held and the numerical value corresponding to the set number of winning balls are added to the held ball display section of the table frame display device 193. Is displayed.

On the other hand, the circulating sphere feed motor 97 operates in synchronization with the operation of the firing motor 51, and the circulating sphere feed member 94 rotates in the sphere feeding direction. Each time the launching hammer 52 launches the ball B, the ball B in the ball array passage 86
Are sent out one by one toward the launch delivery path 87. For this reason, the sphere B is supplied to the sphere launch position without excess or deficiency.

When a game is interrupted for leaving a seat such as a meal or a toilet, the card inserted into the card slot 201 cannot be returned by pressing the leave button 210 of the card unit machine 200. Becomes That is, even if the return button 191 of the table frame 60 is pressed, the card cannot be returned. Further, even if the user presses the settlement button 192, the settlement becomes impossible. For this reason, the card unit machine 20
The card is pulled out from the card slot 201 of 0,
Alternatively, fraudulent activities in which ball information is written on another card are prevented. In addition, since the unseat release button 211 also becomes inoperable, when the unseat is canceled,
The attendance release button 211 is operated by a remote controller or the like by a staff at the game hall.

When a part of the data of the number of held balls or numerical values is written on a card and exchanged for a prize such as a cigarette settled, the split settlement button 216 of the card unit 200 is used.
Is pressed, and the number of settlements and a numerical value are input using the ten-key button 213. Then, within the range of the number of balls held and the numerical value, the settled number and the numerical value are added to the number of stored balls and the numerical value of the card. After that, the card is taken out from the card slot 201 and can be exchanged for a prize corresponding to the number of stored balls and the numerical value of the card at a predetermined prize exchange, which is excellent in usability.

When playing a game, the game area 30 of the game board 30
In some cases, the ball B may be stopped by a nail or the like disposed in the first case. In this case, first, the locking of the table frame 60 is unlocked by a staff member of the game arcade to unlock the table frame 60.
Is opened. Here, the ball B stopped by a nail or the like in the game area 31 is removed. At this time, in order to compensate for the disadvantage of the interruption of the game, the player performs a service action by, for example, inserting the ball B into a winning opening.

In this embodiment, in order to perform the service action, the ball B circulating in the ball path of the circulation path 80 is taken out from the front side of the base 20 with the table frame 60 opened, and the ball B Can be dealt with by using as a service sphere. That is, in a state where the front frame 60 is opened, the opening / closing member 98 is opened by rotating the operating member 100 operably exposed on the front surface of the base 20 in a predetermined direction at the operating portion 101. . Thereby, the discharge port 86a at the bottom of the U-shaped passage portion of the array passage 86 in the spherical passage of the circulation path 80 is opened. Here, by rotating the ball extraction operation knob 105 in a predetermined direction by manual operation, the circulating sphere feed member 94 is rotated in the same direction. Then, the spheres B of the array passage 86 drop from the discharge port 86a at the bottom of the U-shaped passage portion into the tray-shaped outlet 115 while being guided by the guide surface 98a of the opening / closing member 98. The bottom of the outlet 115
The base 20 is inclined downward so that the ball B flows from the rear side toward the front side, and is opened at the front side of the base 20 so as to be able to be taken out. For this reason, the ball B that has fallen into the outlet 115 can be easily taken out at the front side of the base 20, and the taken ball B can be used as a service ball. As a result, the staff at the amusement arcade does not need to carry a ball (service ball) for performing a service action.

When a plurality of balls are fixed to a nail or the like provided in the game area 31 of the game board 30 and the front frame 60 is opened, the ball B fixed to the nail or the like is placed on the floor of the game hall. May fall and scatter. As a result, the number of the balls B circulating in the circulation path 80 may be insufficient, and the number of the balls B corresponding to the insufficient number is replenished by the ball replenishing means. In this case, the ball replenishment process is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, in the spherical passage of the circulation path 80, near the upstream side of the array passage 86 (in the present embodiment, near the downstream portion of the collection joint flow path 84).
When the ball B is not detected by the collected ball detector 173 as the ball detecting means disposed in (A) (N in step S1), and the undetected state continues for one second or more (Y in step S2). A replenishing solenoid 127 as an electric actuator is operated (ON / OFF) by a control signal from a ball information system control board 170 as a control means.
OFF) (step 3). As a result, the plunger is reciprocated one time, and the replenishing ball feeding member 124 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees from the ball receiving position to the ball discharging position through the interlocking mechanism 128, so that the original ball receiving position 125 is rotated. Upside down. By one swing of the replenishing ball feeding member 124, only one ball B at the ball receiving position is sent out to the communication passage of the communication gutter 140, flows into the collecting joint channel 84 from the refilling ball sending port 88, and enters the arrangement passage 86. Flow toward This replenishes the ball B.

As described above, the recovered ball detector 173
The replenishing solenoid 127 is turned ON / OFF by a control signal from the ball information system control board 170 until the ball B is detected for more than one second.
It operates, and each time the replenishing ball feed member 124 swings.
As a result, the balls B are sent out one by one from the collecting and joining channel 84 toward the arraying channel 86 and replenished (see FIG. 7). As described above, by replenishing the required number of balls B, that is, the ball B is detected by the recovered ball detector 173 (Y in step S4), and the detection state continues for one second or more (step S5). (Y), the ball replenishment process ends. The circulation path 80 as described above
When the number of the balls B circulating is insufficient, the number of the balls B corresponding to the insufficient number can be replenished by the ball replenishing means, thereby preventing a problem due to the shortage of the number of the balls circulating in the circulation path 80. be able to. Note that the number of the spheres B circulating in the circulation path 80 does not become insufficient, and the recovered sphere detector 1
If the ball B is detected by 73 (Y in step S1), it is not necessary to replenish the ball B, and the ball replenishment process ends. In step S2, if the undetected state of the ball B is shorter than 1 second (N in step S2), steps S1 and S2 are repeatedly executed.

In this embodiment, the replenishing tank 118 constituting a part of the ball replenishing means is provided on the base 2
The refill tank 118 is mounted on the front side of the tank 0 and has a ball input opening that opens upward at the upper end.
For this reason, when refilling the ball into the replenishing tank 118, the refilling ball B is thrown from the front side of the base 20 into the ball feeding opening of the refilling tank 118 with the front frame 60 opened. Refillable tank 118
Can be easily and quickly performed. In this embodiment, the refill tank 11
Reference numeral 8 is attached to the front surface of the base 20 near the base hinge mechanism 10. Therefore, the rotational moment applied to the hinge plate 11 and the hinge pin 13 of the base hinge mechanism 10 due to the load of the replenishing tank 118 and the balls B stored in the tank can be reduced, and the base hinge mechanism 10
Damage can be prevented.

In this embodiment, the front plate of the replenishing tank 118 has a slit-shaped through-hole 119 as a notifying means for notifying the storage state of the ball B in the ball storage chamber.
Is pierced. Therefore, the slit-shaped through-hole 119 is formed.
, The stored state of the ball B in the refill tank 118 can be visually recognized, and the refill of the refill tank 118 with the ball can be easily managed.

In this embodiment, the delivery passage 145 for refilling balls is formed in the unit case 121 of the replenishment unit 120 which is removably mounted in an assembling hole provided at a predetermined position on the base 20. Have been. Further, the unit case 121 of the replenishing unit 120 is configured to be separable by the front and rear divided case bodies 122 and 123. A replenishing ball feed member 124 composed of a sprocket-shaped rotating body is rotatably mounted between the front and rear divided case bodies 122 and 123. Further, between the front and rear divided case bodies 122 and 123, an interlocking solenoid 127 converts the reciprocating linear motion of the plunger of the refilling solenoid 127 into a swinging motion and transmits it to the refilling ball sending member 124. Each of them is assembled with the mechanism 128. For this reason, the delivery path 145 for refilling the ball is cleaned, or the replenishing ball feeding member 124 and the replenishing solenoid 127 are maintained or inspected. The replacement of the solenoid 127 for use can be easily performed with the replenishing unit 120 removed from the base 20.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the base 2
The replenishing unit 120 detachably mounted on the replenishing unit 120 includes a delivery path 145 for replenishing balls, a replenishing ball sending member 12.
4. The replenishing solenoid 127 and the interlocking mechanism 128 are assembled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a passage wall constituting the ball replenishing delivery passage 145 may be integrally formed at a predetermined position on the base 20. In the above-described embodiment, the reciprocating linear motion of the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 127 is configured to be converted into the oscillating motion by the interlocking member 129 and transmitted to the refilling ball feeding member 124. It is also possible to provide an interlocking mechanism between the plunger of the replenishing solenoid 127 and the replenishing ball feed member 124 so that the replenishing ball feed member 124 is transmitted after being converted into one-way rotational motion. In addition, the refill ball sending member 12
As the electric actuator that operates the motor 4, a motor can be used instead of the replenishing solenoid 127.

In the above embodiment, a slit-shaped through-hole 119 is formed in the front plate of the replenishing tank 118 so that the storage state of the ball B in the replenishing tank 118 can be visually recognized. And a notifying means for notifying the storage state of the ball B by the viewing portion, but a viewing portion is provided by forming at least the front plate of the replenishing tank 118 with a transparent or translucent synthetic resin. The notification unit may be configured by the unit. Further, a ball detector for detecting the storage state of the ball B is provided at a predetermined position of the ball storage chamber of the replenishing tank 118, and a notification lamp and a notification buzzer for notifying the presence or absence of the ball B based on a detection signal of the ball detector are circulated. The notification means can also be configured by installing the pachinko machine 1 at a predetermined position, for example, at the front of the base 20.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the balls circulating in the circulation path are insufficient, the balls can be replenished by the ball replenishing means, and the replenishing balls can be easily supplied to the replenishing tank from the front side of the game machine main body when the door member is opened. Since it can be inserted, management of the sphere in the circulation path can be facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a base and a front frame are opened with respect to an outer frame of a circulation type pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the circulating pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the circulating pachinko machine with the outer frame removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the base from the front side.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the lower half of the base from the front side.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing the lower half of the base from the rear side.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a spherical path of the circulation path from the rear side.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, the relationship among an arrayed passage, a discharge port, an opening / closing member, and a circulating sphere feed member, which similarly constitute a part of a sphere passage in the circulation path.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the front and rear divided case bodies, an opening / closing member, an operation member, and a circulating ball feed motor of the ball feed unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the ball feed unit from the rear side.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the ball feed unit from the front side.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operation member of an opening / closing member and a knob for taking out a ball of a circulating sphere feeding member are respectively arranged on the front surface of the base.

FIG. 13 is a cutaway perspective view showing a state in which the opening / closing member is opened to the discharge port of the array path of the circulation path and the ball flows to the outlet.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the replenishing unit.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing both divided case bodies before and after the replenishing unit.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram sequentially showing a flow of a sphere in a replenishment passage of the replenishment unit.

FIG. 17 is a game control board of a revolving pachinko machine,
It is a block diagram showing connection relation of a ball information system control board and a card system control board of a card unit machine.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a state in which a game-based control board and a card-based control board of a card unit machine are connected mainly with a ball information-based control board of a revolving pachinko machine.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a ball replenishment process when the number of balls circulating in the circulation path is insufficient.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recirculation pachinko machine (game machine) 1a Outer frame (game machine main body) 20 Base (game machine main body) 30 Game board 31 Game area 50 Launch handle 52 Launch hammer 60 Front frame (door member) 80 Circulation path 81 Launch rail 84 Recovery junction (ball passage) 86 Array passage (ball passage)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game machine having a circulation path through which a ball circulates, comprising: a game machine main body; a door member attached to the front side of the game machine main body so as to be openable and closable; Ball detecting means for detecting an insufficient state of the balls circulating and circulating in the circulation path, and refilling the circulation path based on a signal of the ball shortage provided in the game machine main body and from the ball detection means. Ball replenishment means, the ball replenishment means has a replenishment tank for storing a required number of replenishment balls, the replenishment tank, the door member when the door member is in a closed state A game machine disposed at a position where a ball can be thrown into the replenishing tank from the front side of the game machine body when the door member is open. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball refilling means comprises: a delivery path communicating the refill tank with a circulation path; a refill ball sending member for delivering the ball in the delivery path; A gaming machine comprising: an electric actuator that performs a ball-feeding operation of the replenishing ball-feeding member; and a control unit that controls the operation of the electric actuator based on a signal indicating a ball shortage from a ball detection unit. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine main body has a base mounted on one side thereof so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism, and a refill tank is provided on a front surface of the base. The gaming machine is located near the hinge side of. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit for notifying a storage state of the balls in the refill tank. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the notifying means is provided at a front side of the replenishing tank with a visual recognition unit capable of visually recognizing a stored state of balls in the tank.